Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered: Colonial Witchcraft Trials

Before the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692, other inhabitants of Colonial America were accused of practicing witchcraft. Various punishments were meted out, ranging from banishment to death. One person accused of witchcraft in 1657 was Goody Elizabeth Garlick of Easthampton on Long Island. During this presentation, participants will learn about colonial attitudes toward witchcraft, hear the story of Goody Garlick and other accused “witches,” and explore the reasons for the hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts.